A battle is brewing in hip-hop: a battle of talent, a battle of ego and a battle for critical and commercial superiority. And Jermaine Cole, the 28-year-old, German-born North Carolina artist known as J. Cole, is on the front lines.

In August, a Big Sean song called "Control" was released online and to radio, and a verse from rising rapper Kendrick Lamar ignited a firestorm, naming his competitors and essentially declaring war. And Cole's name was called out first. | Oct. 8, 2013»Read Full Article

The New York Times today published a photo slideshow chronicling the story about Robert Indiana's basketball floor for the Milwaukee Bucks and Marquette University for 11 years. The Times slideshow highlights the transformation of the old 1977 floor into a sculpture at City Hall and the brand new floor the Milwaukee Bucks unveiled over the weekend that is an homage to Indiana's original MECCA floor.

A few new things are revealed by the New York Times coverage, including the name of an artist that was also floated in 1977 to make the floor and some thoughts about the floor and Milwaukee from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. | Oct. 8, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(2)

Beloit College has selected one of the more celebrated architects in the U.S. to convert an electrical power plant into a recreation center that will showcase sustainable design and revitalize the river front.

The college's board of trustees has selected Studio Gang Architects of Chicago to transform the century-old power plant, currently owned by Alliant Energy. The plan calls for a transition of ownership of the electrical Blackhawk Generating Station on the Rock River in Beloit from the Wisconsin utility to the school in 2016. | Oct. 8, 2013»Read Full Blog Post

The documentary "The Girls in the Band," screening tonight as part of the Milwaukee Film Festival, shines a spotlight on overlooked female jazz musicians dating back to the 1930s. Photo provided by Milwaukee Film Festival.| Oct. 8, 2013»Read Full Blog Post